1994.05.13: May 13, 1994: Headlines: Action Corps: New York Times: What is the real basis of the Republican opposition to Sam Brown? It could be an effort to re-fight the battle over whether America should have been in the Vietnam War.

What is the real basis of the Republican opposition to Sam Brown? It could be an effort to re-fight the battle over whether America should have been in the Vietnam War.

On March 1 Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, submitted 45 more questions. The first was why Mr. Brown, as Action director in 1978, had recommended dropping from the Peace Corps' legislation a requirement that it instruct volunteers on "the philosophy, strategy, tactics and menace of Communism." (As best he could remember, Mr. Brown replied, The provision had not been followed and no one objected to dropping it.) On March 22 the Foreign Relations Committee met and approved the nomination on a party-line vote, 11 to 9. But when it came to the floor, Republicans raised a point of order about the committee meeting. On April 20, Senator Helms submitted more questions, bringing the total to 108. Among other things he asked whether Mr. Brown had engaged in protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and had thrown "any objects, including human feces." (Mr. Brown replied that he was on the staff of Senator Eugene McCarthy's campaign there and had not demonstrated or thrown anything.)

Conducting the regular business of the Federal Government has become a far more draining task for the President and his people than it used to be. If you want to know why, here is a small example.

Last November President Clinton nominated Sam W. Brown Jr. to be an ambassador as head of the U.S. delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The C.S.C.E., which has played a leading role in promoting human rights, now mediates conflicts in the former Soviet republics and is to supervise some arms control efforts.

Sam Brown was a leading activist against the Vietnam War in the 1960's. He was elected State Treasurer of Colorado in 1975. For four years during the Carter Administration he was the director of Action, the Federal agency that runs volunteer programs. Since then he has been in a real estate development business.

On Nov. 18 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the nomination. Mr. Brown appeared as a witness. No Republican senator asked him a question.

The committee met to consider the nomination on Feb. 9, after the Christmas recess. Republicans objected.

On Feb. 14 Senator Hank Brown, Republican of Colorado, submitted several dozen questions for the nominee to answer. They asked such things as what his experience was in Armenia and Azerbaijan and what course he would recommend to end their conflict. (Mr. Brown replied that he had not been there but had been to many other places with disputes, and that he would follow the existing mediation plans.)

On March 1 Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, submitted 45 more questions. The first was why Mr. Brown, as Action director in 1978, had recommended dropping from the Peace Corps' legislation a requirement that it instruct volunteers on "the philosophy, strategy, tactics and menace of Communism." (As best he could remember, Mr. Brown replied, The provision had not been followed and no one objected to dropping it.)

On March 22 the Foreign Relations Committee met and approved the nomination on a party-line vote, 11 to 9. But when it came to the floor, Republicans raised a point of order about the committee meeting.

On April 20, Senator Helms submitted more questions, bringing the total to 108. Among other things he asked whether Mr. Brown had engaged in protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and had thrown "any objects, including human feces." (Mr. Brown replied that he was on the staff of Senator Eugene McCarthy's campaign there and had not demonstrated or thrown anything.)

Last week the committee again approved the nomination on a party-line vote. It is now ready for the Senate floor, but Republicans are threatening a filibuster. In order to get a vote, the Senate leadership will have to round up 60 votes for cloture.

What is the real basis of the Republican opposition to Sam Brown? It could be an effort to re-fight the battle over whether America should have been in the Vietnam War. A number of Senator Helms's questions dealt with a reception held in New York in 1977 for the arrival of Vietnam's delegation to the United Nations. He asked whether Mr. Brown had been there and approved remarks critical of the United States. (Mr. Brown replied that he had noticed a sign for the event as he walked up Broadway and dropped in for five minutes.)

Senator Brown argued at length in the committee that Sam Brown had had no military experience. Neither have Max Kampelman or Warren Zimmermann, two of his distinguished predecessors, both of whom have endorsed his nomination.

When I asked Senator Brown about his position, he said he thought Sam Brown was "bright and able." He was not moved by partisanship, the Senator said, but C.S.C.E. was going into security matters, and he was "convinced that Sam Brown doesn't have the needed diplomatic or military experience."

Perhaps Senator Brown is really moved by nonpartisan concerns. But for six months now Republicans have blocked a nomination that is not exactly at the level of the Supreme Court. One would have to be exceptionally naive not to suspect that some are simply determined to make the Administration's life difficult -- unless President Clinton sends up nominees pleasing to Jesse Helms.

Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL InterviewPeace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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Story Source: New York Times

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